Friction-clutch for motor-cars or other vehicles.



No. 787,031. PATENTBD'APR. 11, 1905.

y L.' GIRARDOT. l FRIGTION CLUTCH POR MOTOR GARS 0R OTHER VEHICLES. i APPLIGATION- FILI-1]? 00T.14, 1904.

Patented April 11, 1905.

PATENT I OFFICE.

LEoNcE GIEARDor, oFV PUTEAUx, FRANCE.

FRlcTloN-CLUTCH Fon MOTOR-CARS on OTHER VEHICLES.

lSPECIVFICA'FION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,031, dated April 11, 1905. Application filed October 14:, 1904:.v Serial No. 228,473.

To @ZZ 11171/0171, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoNoE GIRARDOT, aY

citizen of France, residing at 7 Rue Ampre,

. tion-cone which is so arranged that it is at all provided with a recess for the cone c.

times exactly concentric with a fly-wheel, against the inner surface of which it is adapte to bear, whereas a certain amount of relative angular displacement between the driving-shaft and the driven shaft is allowed. A ba l-bearing against which the driven shaft abuts is so arranged that it automatically ad'- j usts itself to the angular positions of the said shaft. This was not the case with the arrangements hitherto known. The mounting and unmountingy of the friction-cone are facilitated by constructing the latter in two parts, as will be described hereinafter.

One form of the improved clutchis shown in longitudinal section in the annexed drawlng.

The clutch comprises the fiy wheel a, which is fixed to the driving-shaft t and is The latter, which is fixed to' a sleeve d, provided with teeth, is concentrically mounted on the hub f of the fly-wheel by means of two ballbearings e. By this means the two members of the clutch are caused to remain at all times concentric with regard to each other. When the fly-wheel and cone are in contact with each other, the sleeve d, fixed to the cone, drives, by means of the teeth g, the shaft h, connected with the speed-gear, and a suitable amount of play allowedto the said teeth permits of a certain amount of angular displacement of one shaft with regardto the other; but it will be understood that even when such displacement is produced the driving of the speed-gear continues and the-friction-cone and fly-wheel remain exactly concentric with each other.

As is usual with similar clutches, a spring i,

tends to keep the clutch constantly in gear, the disengaging of the clutch being effected by means of a collar 7c, provided with a ballrace and balls acting on the sleeve CZ. To receive the longitudinal pressure continuously exerted on the shaft h, an abutment provided with a ball-race and balls Z is provided. The said balls l do not, however, rest against a fixed part of the hub of the ily-wheel, but against 'a ring m and a powerful spring o, which abuts against the flange of the hub f. To the end of the driven shaft a rod is connected by .means of a ball-and-socket' joint p in such a manner that owing to the combination of the said ball-and-socket joint and rod `the ball-abutment will always remain adjusted even when the speed-gear shaft assumes angular positions, and all the balls will remain in contact with the ball-race. For the 4same reason the adjustment of theball-abutment when assembling the parts is very easy to effect. To facilitate the mounting and unmounting of the friction-cone, the latter consists of two parts or ofV two half-disks fixed together near their circumference bymeans of lugs r and fixed to a -central support s, which also consists of two parts and is fixed to the sleeve rl in the manner shown in the drawing.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A friction-clutch comprising a fly-wheel a having a hub f fixed to the driving-shaft b and provided with a recess, in combination with a friction-cone c,A a sleeve d to which said cone is rigidly connected provided with inward teeth and concentrically mounted on vided in said hub f, teeth g on the driven shaft 7L gearing, with a suitable amount of play, with the teeth of the sleeve cl, and resilient means for bringing into contact the cone c with the fly-wheel a, substantially as and for the purpose setA forth.

2. A friction-clutch comprising a fly-wheel a having a hub lffixed to the driving-shaft b and provided with a recess, in combination with a friction-cone c, a sleeve d to which said cone is rigidly connected provided with inthe hub j' of the fly-wheel, ball-bearings e pro-y abutting against a ring j, fixed to the shaft 7i, Y

IOO

hub f, and resilient means for bringing into Contact the eone c wlth the ily-Wheel (1 suhstantially as and lor the purpose sot forth.

In testimony whereof l have signed nl v 15 name to this specification 1n the presence oiY two subscribing Witnesses.

LONCE GIRARDOT.

Witnesses:

ANTOINE LAvorX, ARCHIBALD R. BAKER. 

